Package unit



E. W. NAGEL PACKAGE UNIT Filed Feb. 21

Nov. 3, 1959 PACKAGEUNIT EricW rNagel, St. Louis County, Mo. iApplicationFebruary 21,1957, Serial No. 641,754

' i 1 Claim, c1, 206-;46)

This invention relates to a package unit including a base, pump, pressure tank, heater, and insulated housing, particularly for use on farms.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a compact package unit which can be shipped, set in position at the farm, and utilized. thereafter as a completely protected, insulated, heated, pumping unit.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the following description and accompanying drawing.

In accordance with this invention generally stated, a package unit is provided which includes a base, a pressure tank and pump mounted on the base, a heating unit, and a heavily insulated shell hinged to the base and providing complete protection for the pump, tank and heating unit. The entire unit may be shipped as a package, positioned for use or moved from one location to another as a package and used as a package unit.

The shell is preferably hinged along one of its bottom edges on the base in such a way as to completely enclose and protect the pump, pressure tank, heater, and other parts and controls from the elements when the shell is in its closed position, and completely to expose the various parts when the shell is moved to its open position. The shell is preferably constructed so as to clear itself of snow and the like when moved to its open posi tion, and to ensure that the interior of the shell and the parts within the shell are free of snow and the like when the shell is opened.

The base is arranged so that it may be put in place immediately over the mouth of a well and may be incorporated into a concrete base or covering slab.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the package unit with the shell in closed position; and

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the package unit with the shell in open position, exposing the pump, tank, heater and controls and showing the unit in operative position, with suction and pressure pipes, well seal and take off pipe in dotted lines.

Referring now to the drawing for an illustrative embodiment of this invention, reference numeral 1 indicates the entire package unit. The package unit 1 includes a base 2, a pressure tank 3, a pump 4, driven by a pump motor 5, a heater 6 and a shell 7.

Controls associated with the pump and motor include a pressure gauge 8, a pressure switch 9, and a regulator valve 10.

The base 2, in the-embodiment shown, is made up of a rectangular frame 12 of channel iron, with two channel iron supporting members 13 running longitudinally j of the outer frame members between the two end members of the frame. Plates 14 extend between the side members of the frame and the supporting members 13.

In the embodiment shown, the pressure tank 3 is bolted to the supporting members 13 with U-bolts 40. The pump motor is mounted on the pressure tank 3 by means of straps 15. The pump 4 is bolted to the frame of the pump motor 5. The heater 6 is mounted on a I .Uniwd: .s flttiS Patent 0" 2,911,094 I Patented Nov.3, 1959' 2 1 l junction box 16 mounted on the frame of the pum motor 5. Within the junction box 16 are electrical connections from the motor and heater, connectedto an electrical supply when the unit is installed;

The shell 7 is hinged along its lower rearv edge to the rear end of the base frame 12 by means of hinges 17. When the shell 7 is spoken of herein 'as being hinged along its lower edge, the expression is'used to indicate that the axis'of rotationlies along or near that-lower edge, no matter what the actual hinging arrangement may be. In the embodiment shown, for example, the hinges 17 consist of triangular plates l8 riveted or bolted to the sides of-the shell, small plates 19 bolted, riveted, or welded to the base frame along the side members of the frame, and hinge pins 20, extending through aligned holes in the plates 18 and 19.

The shell 7 is made up of side panels 22, a back panel 23, a top 24, a front panel 25, and a sloping panel 26 extending between the top 24 and the front panel 25 and between the side panels 22. A handle 27 is secured to the front panel 25.

Extending inwardly from, and along the lower edge of the back, front and side panels of the shell is a. flange 28. The flange 28 is L-shaped in cross section, with an inwardly extending part 29. The construction of the flange 28 with its part29 serves to add rigidity to the shell and also provides a channel extending around the bottom of the shell to support batts of insulation 30. The insulation used in practice is a high density glass wool insulation. The insulation 30 covers the entire inside surface of the shell. The shell, in practice, is porcelain enameled to provide substantially permanent protection to the metal from which the shell is fabricated.

The pump shown in the illustrative embodiment is of the jet type. Connections are provided for a suction pipe 31 and a pressure pipe 32. Connections are also provided for a takeoff pipe 33 from which the water is conducted wherever it is desired.

The unit is shipped in its assembled condition, the base and shell serving as a container. In installing the package unit, the base 2 is simply placed on the ground or on a concrete pad. If the well is of the driven type, the base may be positioned so that the pump is directly over the well opening. If it' is desired to do so, the base can be permanently secured in position by pouring concrete within the frame of the base. The flow of concrete into the channels between the outer frame members and the supporting members 13, and over the connecting plates 14, will lock the base permanently in the concrete slab. If it is desired to put the unit at some distance away from the Well, as in the case of some dug wells, it is only necessary to run the suction and pressure pipes from the unit to the well. When the unit is positioned over the well opening, it provides pro tection to the well and to persons and animals around it.

In the embodiment shown, the flange 28 of the shell rests on the base frame 12, and overhangs the base frame slightly so as to give added protection. It will be observed that there is no opening in the shell through which snow or rain can enter. It will also be observed that, thanks to the construction of the shell and its hinging arrangement, if there is snow on the top of the shell,

when the shell is swung open, the snow will be carried I back with the shell, leaving the pump, tank, heater, connections and controls clear. The construction of the shell also provides a certain amount of. protection for the inside of the shell itself when the shell is open, since even in its open position, the front panel acts as a top and the sloping panel as a sloping roof.

The heater 6 may take any desired form such, for ex- 3 ample, as a resistance unit, or an ordinary electric light bulb. Its operation may be thermostatically controlled.

It can be seen that the package unit of this invention provides an efiicient, neat, compact, sanitary, rugged and durablev unit which is convenient to ship, position and instalL Having thus described the invention, What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

.A package unit comprising a base having an open rectangular frame of channel members, the channel defining flanges of said members being directed inwardly, and supports connected to and extending between opposite members of said frame; a pump assembly mounted on said. supports; and a thermally insulated, open-bottom, rigidly self-supporting shell mounted on the base, said shell being spaced from said pump assembly and totally enclosing said pump assembly above said base when in closed position said shell being pivotally connected to said base for movement between pump assembly enclosing and pump assembly exposing position, and said pump assembly being operable within said shell when said shell is in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,675,957 Reeves July 3, 1928 1,871,453 Cobb Aug. 16, 1932 2,178,213 Weiller e Oct. 31, 1939 2,341,801 Miller Feb.. 15, 1944 2,359,916 Hussman Oct. 10, 1944 2,551,284 Peltier et 211. ..e May 1, 1951 2,594,586 Ries Apr. 29, 1952 2,774,469 Lung Dec. 18, 1956 

